Chinese defense ministry criticizes latest US defense bill

A Chinese defense spokesman criticized on Thursday the latest United States National Defense Authorization Act, saying it has sent a seriously wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and gravely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a news conference in response to the US defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2026, which includes negative provisions related to China and allocates about $1 billion for the so-called Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, attempting to enhance arms sales to the Taiwan region.

Zhang said the bill constituted a blatant interference in China's internal affairs and accused the US of reneging on its commitments by intensifying arms sales to Taiwan.

Such actions, he said, will only embolden "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and push the Taiwan Strait closer to danger and war.

He also criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities for "sacrificing the interests of the Taiwan people" and allowing the US to "drain Taiwan dry" in pursuit of its own strategic goals.

"Attempts to use Taiwan to contain China are doomed to fail, and seeking 'independence' through force will only lead to self-destruction," Zhang said.

He urged the US to fully recognize the extreme sensitivity of the Taiwan question, strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and handle the Taiwan-related affairs "as cautiously as possible".

The spokesman urged the US side to stop arming Taiwan in any form and to safeguard overall China-US relations and bilateral military ties.